"A brilliant examination of literary invention through the ages, from ancient Mesopotamia to Elena Ferrante, showing how writers created technical breakthroughs as sophisticated and significant as any in science, and in the process, engineered enhancements to the human heart and mind"-- Provided by publisher.
Literature is a technology like any other. The writers we revere each made unique discoveries that solved problems science could not crack: how to maintain courage in the face of death; how to overcome heartache, failure, and doubt to find joy, hope, and purpose. Fletcher considers twenty-five works-- from ancient Chinese lyrics and fairy tales to Hamlet, crime novels and slave narratives-- and uncovers them as literary blueprints for empowering "inventions" in the history of literature. -- adapted from jacket
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